Which statement about bird population responses to restoration activi… | Verbal SAT Question

Agricultural development in the Colorado River Delta has led to habitat degradation that has been detrimental to native birds. Monitoring by Eduardo González-Sargas et al. of bird population responses to recent efforts by the Mexican and US governments to revitalize the Delta showed gains overall, though trends varied at the species level. For instance, many populations of native forest specialists, including Gila woodpeckers, showed signs of rebounding, while those of habitat generalists not native to the region, such as Eurasian collared doves, declined—trends that, though divergent, are indicative of habitat recovery.

Which statement about bird population responses to restoration activities in the Colorado River Delta is best supported by the text?

The fact that populations of some species have been adversely affected by restoration activities doesn’t necessarily suggest that those activities have been unsuccessful.

The causes of the observed divergent species-specific responses to restoration activities likely require further study to account for.

Though the conservationists managing habitat restoration activities in the Colorado River Delta didn’t intend to target populations of Gila woodpeckers and Eurasian collared doves, the outcomes for those species are nevertheless encouraging.

Though trends in the overall bird population in response to restoration activities were initially promising, some declines observed at the species level illustrate that further adjustments to restoration plans may be required.